Robert Francis Rossiter, Jr.
How Judge Rossiter rules, drawn from 18 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Rossiter
Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. is a judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. Appointed by President Barack Obama, Judge Rossiter received a commission on June 29, 2016.
Judge Rossiter's practices and standing orders
Rules for cases before Judge Rossiter, as published on the court's website (checked October 9, 2026). Judges revise these often, so confirm the current version on the court's site before you file.
Key rules
Trial
In civil jury trials, file and email agreed jury instructions and a verdict form in Word at least two weeks before trial.
“At least two weeks before trial, counsel must file and email Word versions”
Trial
In civil bench trials, state what foundation is lacking when making a foundation objection.
“For objections based upon lack of foundation, objecting counsel should state what foundation is lacking.”
Trial
In criminal jury trials, do not make speaking objections.
“The Court does not allow speaking objections.”
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 9, 2026).
How Judge Rossiter decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In one case, the judge gave a self-represented plaintiff another chance to support a retaliation claim before deciding summary judgment. The order still required the plaintiff to meet the substantive evidentiary burden.
“Out of an abundance of caution and a desire to achieve a fair result, the Court will give Bollinger one more opportunity to properly respond to Autozoners’s motion.”
In a railroad-injury case, Rossiter left disputed negligence and causation questions for trial while granting partial summary judgment on a contributory-negligence defense the railroad did not support with evidence.
“potential fault of Stuart and his causation of Halle’s alleged injuries are for the fact-finder to determine.”
Procedural preferences
In one case, the judge declined to treat an opponent’s factual statement as admitted solely because a self-represented party had responded inadequately; he sought a fuller merits record before ruling.
“The postal service asks the Court ‘to deem [its] statement of material facts admitted’ and grant summary judgment in its favor, but the Court is reluctant to do that under the circumstances of this case.”
In one settlement dispute, the judge enforced the parties’ signed agreement while declining to add a payment method and fee distribution schedule the agreement did not contain. Put disbursement details in the agreement if they are material.
“The settlement agreement requires the defendants to pay $575,000 to BJ’s and is silent regarding BJ’s fee arrangement with its counsel.”
Cautions
In Becker v. Vaughn, Rossiter granted a jurisdictional dismissal motion in a removed small claims action. He found the plaintiff’s response did not meaningfully address the postmaster’s sovereign immunity and jurisdictional arguments.
“Aside from a cursory complaint about ‘unfound facts’ that purportedly fail to account for Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(i)(1)(C), Becker neither challenges Vaughn’s assumptions about her rather cryptic claim nor cogently addresses his jurisdictional arguments.”
In one criminal case, the court denied a request for counsel’s file made before a habeas petition because the movant identified no viable claim or factual basis for discovery.
“Without articulating any colorable basis in law or fact for her request, Besta’s motion is both premature and overbroad.”
In a construction dispute, Rossiter left contested damages classifications and amounts for trial because overlapping summary-judgment papers rested on an incomplete factual record.
“the remaining damages issues are better resolved on a more complete record developed at trial than by this Court on overlapping cross-motions for summary judgment on admittedly incomplete and imperfect information.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike Extraneous Material (Filing No. 42) is denied.”
“Defendants U.S. Bank’s, Wells Fargo Bank’s, and REO’s Motions for Leave to File Further Evidence (Filing Nos. 56 and 59) are granted.”
“Plaintiffs’ Requests to Take Judicial Notice (Filing Nos. 41, 51, and 64) are granted in part and denied in part.”
“Plaintiff Michael Segobia’s Motion for Dismissal Without Prejudice (Filing No. 56) is granted.”
“Defendant Megan J. Brennan’s Motion to Dismiss and Motion for Summary Judgment (Filing No. 51) is denied as moot.”
“Defendant David Vaughn’s Motion to Dismiss (Filing No. 6) pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) is granted.”
“Plaintiff Susanne Becker’s motion to rescind (Filing No. 10) and motion for contempt and summary judgment (Filing No. 11) are denied.”
“Instead of granting summary judgment on this basis, the Court will give Bollinger a final chance to support his retaliation claim with the evidence he has in his possession.”
“No. 219) is granted in part and denied in part as described above.”
“Plaintiffs Matt and Chris Allen’s Motion to Remand (Filing No. 5) is denied.”
“criminal charges against him with prejudice (Filing No. 260) is granted.”
“Respondents Rob Jeffreys, Mike Hilgers, and Craig Gable’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Filing No. 8) is granted.”
“This case is stayed pending arbitration.”
“Defendant LRL Construction Company, Inc.’s Motion to Compel Arbitration and to Dismiss or, in the Alternative, to Stay Proceedings (Filing No. 9) is denied without prejudice.”
“Defendant Jacobs Associates, Inc.’s Motion to Dismiss (Filing No. 14) is denied without prejudice.”
“That motion (Filing No. 160) will be denied as moot.”
“Caruso’s motions, Filing Nos. 160, 161 and 167 are denied.”
“the Motion to Order Return of Legal Transcripts (Filing No. 167) will be denied as moot.”
“Defendant Lauryn A. Besta’s pro se Motion to Compel Defense Counsel to Surrender Defendant’s Case File (Filing No. 112) is denied.”
Pending matters in the official report
Reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts under the Civil Justice Reform Act, as of March 31, 2026.
| Motions pending more than six months | 3 |
| Bench trials submitted more than six months | 0 |
| Bankruptcy appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Social Security appeals pending more than six months | 0 |
| Civil cases pending more than three years | 2 |
| Report | Motions over six months | Cases over three years |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | 3 | 2 |
| Sep 2025 | 0 | 4 |
| Mar 2025 | 0 | 4 |
| Sep 2024 | 1 | 7 |
| Mar 2024 | 4 | 7 |
| Sep 2023 | 2 | 6 |
| Mar 2023 | 2 | 3 |
| Sep 2022 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2022 | 0 | 2 |
| Sep 2021 | 0 | 2 |
| Mar 2021 | 0 | 2 |
| Sep 2020 | 0 | 0 |
A snapshot on that date: matters listed may since have been decided or reassigned. A motion referred to a magistrate judge is counted for both judges. Motions in multidistrict litigation, section 2255 cases and Social Security appeals are not counted, and a very large three-year count is generally a multidistrict docket. Source: Appendix A of the report (PDF); about the report.
How long civil cases take in this court
For the whole of United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, not for Judge Rossiter: median time from filing to disposition of the civil cases the court closed in the 12 months ending September 30, 2025, as reported by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
| Cases | Median time | |
|---|---|---|
| All civil cases closed | 734 | 5.4 months |
| Closed with no court action | 210 | 3 months |
| Closed before pretrial | 506 | 6.9 months |
| Closed during or after pretrial | 13 | 27.1 months |
| Closed during trial | 5 | not reported |
| 12 months ending | Cases closed | Median time |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | 734 | 5.4 months |
| Sep 2024 | 522 | 7.8 months |
| Sep 2023 | 467 | 7 months |
| Sep 2022 | 667 | 5.2 months |
| Sep 2021 | 588 | 6.8 months |
| Sep 2020 | 508 | 8 months |
| Sep 2019 | 492 | 8.6 months |
The table leaves out prisoner petitions, land condemnations, deportation reviews, recovery of overpayments and enforcement of judgments, and reports no median for fewer than 10 cases. A district that closed a large multidistrict litigation in the period shows very large counts and long medians for that year. Source: Table C-5, U.S. District Courts (spreadsheet).
Draft for Judge Rossiter with the record in hand
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